This Week

Following a bye week, the San Jose Earthquakes (13-5-5, 44 pts.) will host Western Conference rival Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, August 11 at Buck Shaw Stadium in a Heritage Cup match. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet California, 1590 KLIV (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).

Earthquakes All-Time Record vs. Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle Sounders FC Info

Last Match vs. Sounders FC

Seattle Sounders FC 1, Earthquakes 0; June 26, 2012; Kezar Stadium
The San Jose Earthquakes fell 1-0 in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal to Seattle Sounders FC. The match was played at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. Cordell Cato scored the lone goal of the match in the 19th minute, putting the ball past Quakes goalkeeper David Bingham from a tight angle. Despite a flurry of chances in the second half, the Quakes could not put one into the net, as Sounders FC advanced to the semifinals.

Seattle Sounders FC Scouting Report
The Seattle Sounders (10-5-7) enter Saturday’s showdown at Buck Shaw riding a six game unbeaten streak in MLS play, including a 4-0 win over Western Conference opponent LA Galaxy this past weekend. Seattle is currently in the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference with 37 points and have a game in hand on the Quakes. In recent weeks the Sounders have faced European Champion Chelsea FC of the EPL in a friendly that resulted in a 4-2 Chelsea win on July 18, with Freddy Montero recording both Sounders FC goals. Seattle also earned a 3-1 victory on Aug. 2 in a CONCACAF Champions League game against Caledonia AIA from the TT Pro League in Trinidad and Tobago. Sounders FC will play in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final on Wednesday, August 8 against Sporting Kansas City at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas. The match marks Sounders FC’s fourth straight trip to the U.S. Open Cup Final, having won it the past three years.

Earthquakes Leaders vs. Seattle Sounders FC
Chris Wondolowski has scored four goals in seven matches against Seattle Sounders FC in his career, including the game-winner in a 1-0 victory on March 31 at CenturyLink Field … Wondolowski has scored in the past two regular season games played against Sounders FC … Shea Salinas has three assists in seven meetings, all three of them coming in three appearances with San Jose in 2009 … Goalkeeper Jon Busch is 1-2-3 all-time against Seattle, with a road shutout in a 0-0 draw while playing for the Chicago Fire on July 25, 2009, and 1-2-1 in three match-ups in a Quakes uniform, with a shutout in a 1-0 victory for the Quakes in the last matchup on March 31 at CenturyLink Field.

Seattle Sounders FC Leaders vs. San Jose
Forward Fredy Montero has produced three goals (all game-winners) and one assist in seven matches against the San Jose Earthquakes in his career … Midfielder Brad Evans has three goals and one assist in seven career appearances, including two goals and one assist in five matches with Seattle … Forward Eddie Johnson has two goals in 10 career matches vs. San Jose, but none with Sounders FC.

History of the Quakes – Seattle Sounders FC Rivalry
The Quakes are 3-4-1 all-time against Seattle Sounders FC in MLS regular season play and 0-1-0 in U.S. Open Cup play … This season, San Jose defeated Sounders FC 1-0 at CenturyLink Field on March 31 in MLS action before falling 1-0 on June 26 in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match at Kezar Stadium … The teams played three times in 2009, with Seattle taking both meetings at what was then called Qwest Field (2-0 on April 25 and 2-1 on June 13), before the Earthquakes registered a 4-0 triumph at Buck Shaw Stadium on Aug. 2 … In 2010, the Earthquakes edged Sounders FC at Qwest Field, 1-0 on May 22 thanks to a Chris Wondolowski goal, with Seattle returning the favor at Buck Shaw on July 31 through a Fredy Montero strike … A season ago, the two teams battled to a 2-2 draw at Buck Shaw on April 2, with Seattle taking a 2-1 decision at CenturyLink Field on Oct. 15.

Heritage Cup 2012
The Heritage Cup, an annual rivalry between the San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders FC in honor of their NASL (North American Soccer League) lineages, continues in 2012. The competition began in 2009 when Seattle joined MLS. The Earthquakes won the inaugural competition on aggregate, 5-2, after a 4-0 home victory on Aug. 2, 2009. The teams split the two-game season series in 2010 (1-1 on aggregate). Sounders FC took the trophy via tiebreaker due to a higher position in the Western Conference standings. In 2011, the teams battled to a 2-2 draw on April 2 at Buck Shaw Stadium, with Sounders FC retaining the cup through a 2-1 home victory on Oct. 15. With the league’s unbalanced schedule in 2012, the competition will include only the final two meetings (of three) of the season series, at Buck Shaw Stadium on Aug. 11, and back at CenturyLink Field on Sept. 23. The 1-0 Earthquakes victory on March 31 will not count in the competition, except as a possible tiebreaker. Three points will be awarded for a win, and one point for a draw. In the event of a tie in the total number of aggregate goals, the first two of eight tiebreakers in all will be total goals scored over the two matches, followed by away goals scored. The third tiebreaker would award the cup to the March 31 winner.

Miscellaneous Notes

Quakes Host EPL Side Swansea City, Draw 2-2
On Tuesday, July 31 the San Jose Earthquakes hosted English Premier League side Swansea City AFC at Buck Shaw Stadium in San Jose’s first international exhibition of 2012. Swansea City, which was wrapping up a 12-day tour of the United States, led for most of the match after Daniel Graham opened the scoring in the 41st minute. The Swans doubled their lead in the 60th minute after new-signing Chico scored. The Quakes played with reserve players for most of the game, but brought in some regulars in the closing minutes of the game. Steven Lenhart scored a brace in the final 10 minutes to bring the Quakes level. The Quakes are still unbeaten against Premier League opponents in their history at 1-0-3.

Quakes Shine at 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game
San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski scored in the 21st minute to help lead the MLS All-Stars to a 3-2 victory over Chelsea FC in the 2012 MLS AT&T All-Star Game on July 25 at PPL Park in Philadelphia. Defenders Steven Beitashour, Ramiro Corrales, and Justin Morrow also played a role in defeating the reigning European champions. Morrow was a late addition to the squad as coach Ben Olsen added the third-year left-back on July 19 following an injury to New York Red Bulls defender Heath Pearce. San Jose led the MLS with four players on the All-Star team’s active roster. The last time the Earthquakes had three or more players selected to the MLS All-Star game was in 2004 when Jeff Agoos, Brian Ching, Landon Donovan, Richard Mulrooney and Pat Onstad made the list. Goalkeeper Jon Busch and midfielder Marvin Chavez were named to the inactive roster.

Earthquakes Acquire M Mehdi Ballouchy
The Earthquakes acquired midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for a 2013 international spot and a conditional 2013 draft pick on July 30. The seven-year MLS veteran has 13 goals and 24 assists in 174 career games with three different clubs. Most recently, Ballouchy scored four goals and notched four assists in 51 appearances with the New York Red Bulls. He started for the Quakes on July 31 against Swansea City AFC.

Quakes First in the Western Conference, Supporters’ Shield Standings
The Earthquakes (13-5-5, 44 pts.) retained their spot atop the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings after rescuing a point with a 1-1 draw at Buck Shaw Stadium against the Chicago Fire. San Jose is two points clear of Real Salt Lake (13-8-3, 42 pts.), who lost 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids over the weekend. RSL also currently holds second-place in the Supporters’ Shield, with the Eastern Conference’s Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City four points behind San Jose at 40 points on the season.

Blonde-Haired Bedlam at Buck Shaw
The Earthquakes welcomed forward Steven Lenhart back after a four-game absence due to concussion symptoms on July 28 when the Chicago Fire visited Buck Shaw Stadium. He entered the match in the 59th minute and scored a dramatic stoppage time goal to equalize for the Quakes on a night that also happened to be Steven Lenhart Wig Night. The Quakes 1-1 tie kept them undefeated at Buck Shaw Stadium in 2012 at 6-0-3.

Stoppage-Time Shenanigans
Steven Lenhart’s goal in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage (98th minute) vs. the Chicago Fire on July 28 was the latest goal scored in Earthquakes club history. Additionally, it marked the sixth second half stoppage-time goal scored by San Jose this season, tying a club record for the most in a single season.

Iron Man Morrow
Quakes all-star defender Justin Morrow has now appeared in all 23 games for San Jose this season, following his 90-minute performances against the Chicago Fire on Saturday. He is tied for the league lead in games played, and leads MLS with 2,070 minutes played. Fellow defender Steven Beitashour appeared in the first 22 games of the season but was suspended for July 28 game with the Fire due to yellow-card accumulation.

Earthquakes Remain Undefeated at Buck Shaw Stadium
The Earthquakes are 6-0-3 at Buck Shaw Stadium this season after tying the Chicago Fire 2-1 on July 28 and the team is 7-1-3 when playing in the Bay Area. San Jose has also played home MLS matches at AT&T Park (1-0 loss vs. Houston on March 17) and Stanford Stadium (4-3 win vs. LA Galaxy on June 30). The last time San Jose lost at Buck Shaw Stadium was Aug. 13, 2011, 2-1 against the Colorado Rapids.

Wondolowski Approaching MLS Single Season Record for Game-Winning Goals
Chris Wondolowski is one game-winning goal away from tying an MLS record that he shares with former LA Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz. Wondolowski (2010) and Ruiz (2002) have each recorded nine game-winning goals in a single season. San Jose’s striker has scored the game winner in eight of San Jose’s 13 victories to date. The Earthquakes have 11 games remaining for Wondolowski to try and match the record.

Wondolowski Closing in on Club Scoring Mark
Chris Wondolowski is seven goals away from matching Ronald Cerritos’ club record for career goals scored. Cerritos scored 61 goals in 148 games over six seasons in San Jose. Meanwhile, Wondolowski has 54 goals in 95 games over five seasons for the Earthquakes. Additionally, with 17 goals this year, Wondolowski is one goal away from tying his own record for goals in a single season. He scored 18 goals in 2010.

Top of the League
Through 23 games, the Earthquakes are No. 1 in MLS with 45 goals scored and 50 assists. With 28 goals conceded, the Quakes are also No. 1 in the league with a +17 goal differential. The Quakes also lead MLS with 29 second half goals and a +18 goal differential in the second half.

Single Season Goals Record
The San Jose Earthquakes have now scored 45 goals in 2012 to lead MLS. The team has scored more goals this year than any season since returning to MLS in 2008. The all-time team record for goals scored in a season is 55, set in 1997.

Wine & Dine with the Earthquakes Set for Sept. 9 at Guglielmo Winery
The club will host its Wine and Dine with the Earthquakes wine tasting and fundraising event on Sunday, Sept. 9 at the Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill. The event includes wine tasting, VIP catering and the opportunity to mingle with Earthquakes players, coaches and front office members. Tickets to the event are available to all Earthquakes fans starting at www.sjearthquakes.com/wine. Tickets for this exclusive event are $100 per person or a table of eight for $800. You can also purchase one of five VIP tables for eight guests for $1,200 and have Chris Wondolowski, Steven Lenhart, Jon Busch, Alan Gordon or Frank Yallop as the guest at your table. Guests must be 21 years of age or older in order to attend. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted. All proceeds will benefit the Earthquakes Community Fund.

Wells Fargo Goals for Education
Wells Fargo has again pledged to donate $250 for each goal the Earthquakes score in 2012 through the Goals for Education program. With 45 goals through 23 games, the donated total for this season already stands at $11,250. Thanks to 40 goals in 2011, the partnership raised $10,000 for local youth soccer and athletic development programs a year ago.

Academy News

Generation adidas Cup
The Earthquakes U-17 boys reached the Generation adidas Cup semifinal after finishing 3-0 in group play. The U-17s defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-2, Houston Dynamo 3-2 and Chicago Fire 1-0 to sweep their group and earn a spot in the semifinal against the Philadelphia Union. After falling 5-1 against the Union on Tuesday, they will face the Columbus Crew for third place on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Earthquakes U-15s defeated Seattle Sounders FC 1-0, FC Dallas 1-0 and lost 2-1 against Toronto FC to finish 2-1 in group play and earn a spot in the 5th-8th place bracket.